Americas Sweethearts

[KenAdams]

Has anyone watched this on Netflix?

It's about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

There's so much wrong with it I don't even know where to start. They get paid virtually nothing but are required to completely commit (because the role is a privilege), are held to unrealistic beauty and weight standards, ruin their hips and feet by the time they are in their early twenties, the list goes on.

It shows how backwards the USA are as a country in terms of their treatment of women that they think this is OK.

Her baby voice is a bit weird though. She forgets to do it at points and her normal voice is much nicer.

I noticed this with Reece.

Also Kelcey with her highly irritating vocal fry.

@elp30 you’re welcome ma’am 😉

I’ve just started watching this & I can’t stop, it’s awful but it’s so compelling. Is there a limit to how long they can practice as a cheerleader? Do they have to retire after 5 years? The whole thing seems incredibly brutal.

I've watched since Making the Team, often with my jaw on the floor for the reasons already stated. Another moment to add from MTT was when it's announced that the cohort that Klein (sp) have made it her boyfriend proposes in front of everyone. Ffs.

I kind of agree with this. The whole point of feminism is getting to choose, right? I consider this a hobby as they all have normal jobs outside the dcc. I've been part of choirs that perform regularly and require rehearsals etc. Obviously none of the physical stuff or crazy expectations on weight/ beauty but if you think of it as a hobby, and they love it, they should be able to get on with it...

No. That is not the 'whole point of feminism'. Not all choices are feminist choices, and women are not obliged to validate the poor choices of other women, even if they have some understanding of the kind of internalised misogyny that clearly fuels this one.

Just finished this! It's a total guilty pleasure & I was agog at a lot of it but I did like the feeling of "sorority" amongst the young women & especially the older Alumni, they seemed to be still close all the years later, personally I've never been a "sorority" type but some people, especially when they're thousands of miles from home, on their own, need that support system so from that perspective I like it

The wet lettuce & Snow White were just such a strange match...
Nate I liked, he put his "acting career" on hold to support her & I think that was pretty cool, I like them

Victoria made the right decision I think, she seems so fragile so maybe running her own classes is the way forward for her

Also watching and agree with all your points OP. I'm still furious that there is a licensing deal with Mattel to make DCC Barbies and the women still don't get paid properly.
The episode I found really sinister is where they are going to old people's homes, posing for endless photos with wannabe letch men ('hands on the football Sir') then get lectured by Kelli for not sending cards to the team bus driver or saying something she perceives as not humble enough. Its like they are trying to fully possess them and even control what they think and say.
They are completely infantilised.

I’m not against cheerleading as a hobby - it’s skilled and athletic. But I do feel the idea that these women are there as the support to the main event is terribly dated. They should have their own events, perhaps without the focus on hair, makeup and having a perfect figure for the skimpy costumes.

The episode with the Christmas tree was particularly disturbing. I wondered if there might be some sort of Gilead type punishment meted out.

I couldn't get over how exploited the women were, while at the same time the botoxed Aunt Lydias, secure in their long term jobs with DCC, were truly horrific.
They showed lots of performative angst about cutting the girls from the squad but somehow they manage to do it (every year).
The head woman (daughter of the team owner...) who was insistent that the squad was to be 36 (which mean cutting two more girls at the final stage) had no real reason for it other than a power trip.
And the pay! Same as working in a fast food restaurant.

@SiobhanSharpe actually the cutting to 36 was the only thing I sort of thought was a good move for the girls ( no doubt in reality though she was just worried about money). Imagine in that situation being the sub. They’re all so competitive you’d just always be sitting on the sidelines. Better if one was ill that they just be short a cheerleader.
Agree though about them having no qualms about the cutting. The blonde woman with the eye bags certainly didn’t get them through loss of sleep over cutting. She was hideous to Victoria and really seemed to have no maternal instincts at all towards any of them.

On a previous season they explained they all ready have "subs"... retired veterans who will fill in of necessary.

Oh that's interesting @PuttingDownRoots

I've been wondering why we've never seen a UK based entrant at the auditions, in the past they've had Australian, Japanese... I don't think anyone from the UK would put up with the 'yes ma'am' etc.

I'm surprised that an Australian could stomach it either!

I thought both the women were really cold. And as I said, the owner's daughter who was seen towards the end of training saying she only wanted 36 in the squad -- clearly in charge, got what she wanted with very little opposition. She gave me the shivers.
i don't think it could be about money, they were paid next to nothing and cash had already been paid out for the outfits, boots, hair etc during the training period. And i think the DCC actually make money for the organisation doing tours etc.

I know the original series pops up on MTV every now and then but does anyone know where I can binge watch the whole thing please?

@SiobhanSharpe actually you’re right. They did already have the uniform etc when they cut it to 36. I wonder why she was so bothered? Maybe just a power trip thing. It did seem like she enjoyed putting her foot down with the other two over it

I thought owners daughter was ‘asserting her authority’? I say 36, it’s 36.

The aunt Lydia’s were horrible to Victoria. In the final meeting I thought they were saying don’t bother applying you’re not getting selected if we have anything to do with it. They were such were so concerned, we’re family & it’s all tosh.

When the young woman was sexually assaulted & wanted to press charges I thought Kelli was throwing her eyes to heaven in a is that all that happened way. Men maul you, suck it up.

@aprilshowers2015 Its actually been on MTV on a loop for, I would think, at least a year now. They start at Series 3 (no idea why Series 1 or 2 are never shown) and go through to Series 16 (2021 auditions / training camp). As soon as Series 16 is finished, Series 3 starts again immediately. It's currently on about the 4th 'loop'! Currently showing Series 5 every weekday morning starting at around 7.30am with catchups on Saturday and Sunday mornings also.

I feel like I know these women by now!!

Btw, I'm in Ireland but I'm assuming MTV shows the same programmes in the UK.

@VaddaABeetch I thought that too! Kelly had a face like thunder (ha!) when she found out that that girl, Sophy (I think? ) had already informed the police before she got to her to tidy things up I'd suggest... then I suppose she had to show her professional & caring side saying she'd "done the right thing" but I wasn't buying it but then I wasn' t convinced that in a stadium that huge with ALL those cameras, neither professionals nor punters didn't catch a single shot of her being groped... okaaaay! My eyes rolled very far back into my head

It’ll be interesting to see if Sophybis selected next year.

Not buying it too on the cameras.

Oh that's a good point! I mean it's all about THE BRAND & now Sophy's been branded as a "troublemaker" (most likely) behind closed doors...

There is also a series on Netflix called Cheer, which is about the performance type of cheerleading and covers college cheer which follows those who get scholarships.

@PPuttingDownRoots - Yes, they can. They can its under the Athletics program. My daughter is hoping to be awarded a scholarship next yr when she graduates.